This is a family friendly blog for those who love dolls and toys. The blog is a forum for all apsects of doll history, doll collecting, and doll making. It is the first step in creating a nonprofit doll center to educate the public about the historical role that dolls, the oldest human cultural artifact, play in the the lives of people all over the world. All excerpts are the author's intellectual property and may not be reproduced in any means withoutreceiving permission from the author.

My husband led me to a fantastic Victorian doll house yesterday. After we chatted with a great couple who built it, we came home with VanV...

Sand Baby Castaways

Courtesy, Glenda Rolle the Artist

PM Dolls

Leo Moss

German Dolls

Formerly, Aunt Len's.

Beecher Doll

Graces cover of Lenon Hoyte Auction, Aunt Len's

Foreign Dolls

Pryor Collection

Pryor Doll Collection

In Dec. 1959 Natl. Geographic

Great Book

Edward VI's Doll, 1540

Formerly, Helen Moe Doll Museum

Rare "frozen metal doll" Mannikin Pis

Courtesy, eBay Eilleen, Finder 27

Vintage Japanese Doll Joins our Museum Family

Courtesy, Southern Soldier Antiques

Rare Frozen Charlotte Type

A Pageant of Dolls

By Lesley Gordon, 1948

Hong Kong Lili

Barbie Stamp

An early Vintage Barbie

Bild Lili

Zinc Bodied Rohmer

Caused a suit between Mme. Rohmer and Mlle. Huret

Metal Dydee Baby

17th century Lead Dolls

England

Doll Shaped Mold

cf Dolls and Puppets by von Boehn

Metal Head

Probably Minerva

Black Metal Head

Russian Nesting Doll Charm

18 inch Metal Head

Mlle Bleuette

14th C Munich Clay Doll

Used as Bapitsmal Gifts

Halopeau artists rendering

Toy maker

Restored dolls

L to R: All vinyl mid-60s, Ragggedy Ann, handmade, new arms and clothes, Barbie Type as Elizabeth Short, The Black Dahlia. Black Felt Dress, white silk flowers and ribbons. She is in one piece, but with a swivel waist that does snap in two!

About Me

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Love, Shirley Temple is not done yet! Theriault's is excited and pleased to announce to all the Shirley fans across the world that a "Part 2" of this historic auction will take place this fall. Encompassing over 400 items, this event will focus heavily on Shirley's teen years with selections of movie memorabilia and costumes. As well, Shirley's own personal collection of 100 Rosenau Cinderella dresses, her personal collection of dolls from the 50's, items from her now lege...ndary Storybook TV show, and more finds from her childhood recently uncovered in the vaults. The event will take place on Sunday, November 22 at the prestigious Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City where special Theriault room rates await. Finally, so as to complete a beautiful matching set, a Volume 2 of the catalog will be hard bound and matching to your now prized Volume 1 and will be available to order next week for delivery in early November. Get ready Shirley fans...the excitement continues!

By now, many of the "junior" collectors among us are heading back to school! I think it would be fun to talk about dolls and education, and dolls with back-to-school themes. Ideas, readers? It might be fun to survey doll themed school accessories, doll and character erasers, school houses for dolls, school desks for dolls, and school clothes for dolls. How many of us remember playing school with our dolls and being the teacher? I do, and now, I "play school" in real life! Many doll collectors were educators, so it is fair to dedicate this newsletter to them. Also, fall and Halloween are close, so here are a couple posts on dolls in scary flicks, including "Dangerous Worry Dolls", which slants traditional wool and wire-wrapped dolls from Guatemala with "sinister intent." One reader suggested more posts on our beloved Raggedy Ann, who turns 100 this year, but who inexplicably has inspired a "haunted" doll named Annabelle. Japanese dolls have been the muses of artist Glorie Iaccarino for some time; read her story below. Finally, here are some history bytes on dolls and toys inspired by crime and punishment, meant to teach moral lessons to naughty children. These are notes and comments from some of my other research on capital punishment and popular culture. Finally, a doll mystery; were T. Recknagel doll maker and T. Recknagel artist the same person? Next week, posts on "My Ballerina Dolls", Native American dolls, more German doll makers, American Girls, and more.

Raggedy Ann, one of the most beloved dolls of all times, turns 100 this year! Every day I see some indication that Raggedy Ann is as popular and loved as she ever was. Last week, I saw a sign for "Annies", a gambling establishment with a vintage Raggedy Ann as its logo! A Raggedy Ann was a prop in an old episode of "Gun Smoke." She and Raggedy Andy ride a horse in a PBS public message. This is one in a series of stories I am writing about the little doll who gave me, and millions of other children great happiness.

Beautiful Japanese Dolls inspire photographs by an artist. The graceful dolls representing characters from the Kabuki Theater are made in Japan by special artists. They were once more plentiful than they are no in the United States, where they often show up as "second hand" items in online auctions, thrift and antique shops, yard sales, and doll shows. A few years ago, the dolls were reproduced faithfully in China, but these dolls are harder to find now, too. Artist and collector Glorie Iaccarino creates beautiful art photos inspired by these lovely, graceful figures. Read more about her.

Worry dolls take worries away; they aren't supposed to cause them! I'm sure many readers are familiar with these 1 inch beguiling little figures made of bits of cloth and yarn wrapped around wire. They come in tiny boxes or miniature handwoven bags. Some have clay heads. Others may be a couple inches, and some appear as kits where little girls can make them with clothespins and yarn. They are meant to bring good luck and peace of mind. You tell them your worries, and the dolls take away your cares, according to tradition. In this film, worry dolls do just the opposite!

Dolls with criminal justice and legal significance and a puzzle for my readers, these are "doll bytes" of a much larger work, which give us a glimpse of what "educational toys" were in the past. With Halloween coming, such toys show up as props and decorations, and some inspire horror flicks. These topics about dolls like this often appear at literature and film conferences, too, creating a whole new category of collectors. Read more.

Theodor Recknagel made bisque heads, some with googly eyes, and dolls with unusual bodies. They are often a little more expressive than the average "dolly faced' dolls made between 1890 and 1920. At the same time, there was an artist of the same name who painted delicate portraits of children. I'm trying to find out if they were the same man, but there is little biographical information on either. If any of you has information about either the doll maker or artist, please write to me!

Sunday, August 23, 2015

See below; I have blogged about this festival and the amazing Gourd dolls and puppets displayed before. It's a wonderful opportunity!

Greetings from the Quad City Area Gourd Patch!

You are invited to join us for our 8th Annual A “Gourd”geous Day in the Country!! Please mark your calendars for Saturday, September 26 (as always the 4th Saturday in September) from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. to enjoy many free activities. Please check out the attached flyer for the day’s activities.

Be sure to stop by the Welcome Booth to sign up for free door prizes given hourly. Also, if you bring a non-perishable food item (to be given to a food pantry in Iowa and one in Illinois) you will receive a free raffle ticket. Drop it in the container in front of the various Halloween gourd art pieces made by the Patch members. (Some have asked what a “Patch” is – it is a group of people who gather together because they have a love of gourds). Your donations are always welcome to receive more raffle tickets – your generosity is what helps keep the festival free.

Bring your cameras as there are vignettes and other photo opportunities. One that all seem to enjoy is the Gourd Hat and Bling booth that is set in a fall setting. Volunteers are at the booth to assist you and to take pictures if you would like. Plenty of room for a family!

It’s baaaack!! All parts of the gourd can be used not just the outside. Come see the papermaking demos using the insides of gourds.

Bring your best guesses for Count the Candy Corn. You have two chances again this year to win neat containers of candy corn. Pick up your free mystery gourd seeds while you are there.

New classes, new puppet show, new games (all kids receive a goody bag for playing) – and they are all free! Make it and take it this year is gourd bug houses. Many new things and old favorites will be here. Please read the attached flyer for a day of fun. Something for everyone.

As always, our gourd patch members are available to answer any questions you have.

We couldn’t begin to do this without the many, many volunteers. If you are interested in being a part of a unique day, please let us know.

This
could really be a theme for us; after all, look at all great companion
memorabilia we snapped up at Love, Shirley Temple. Because we aren't
single-minded, we are also into fun plush and characters like Funko's
Fabrikations, described below. We also attend auctions, online and in
person; note that two great Rendezvous Auctions are coming up August
17th, and August 24th (1950s dolls). We look for dolls here and there,
at flea markets, yard sales, doll shops, antique shops, doll shows, you
name it. We make dolls, repurpose dolls, invent dolls, dress dolls,
undress dolls, display dolls, etc. For example, Glorie Iaccarino is
an artist who loves dolls, eco art, and establishing art galleries,
online and brick and mortar. Here's to us, that talented, diverse group
united by their passion for dolls and their history! As always, I love
to hear from you; what are your favorite dolls to collect? I'll feature
answers and photos in upcoming posts. Happy Collecting!

Dolls
called Secondaries later can prove that All Dolls are Collectible!
Dolls like metal heads, half dolls, and cellulloid dolls were once
called secondaries, but no more. What dolls do you think are
"sleepers?" Read more.

Here are a couple newly discovered dolls from Gallerie II, and a memoir of someone who helped me along in my own collecting. A recent interview with Elizabeth Ann Coleman for Antique Doll Collector Magazine Blog reveals that Ann Coleman is researching ceramic porcelain shoulder heads for her most recent project, so here is an update of an article on china heads and all their variations. Finally, as I continue to uncover great finds, I include an encore performance of a tribute to my mother, who encouraged my collecting in all things. More soon about another estate collection, recent find, dolls for fall, and auction updates. Remember, I try to answer all emails, but give me a few days turnaround, and note I am not a dealer or professional appraiser. I'm just someone, like all of you, who loves dolls! Happy Collecting!

Joe Spencer Folk Dolls for Gathered Traditions are delightful works of affordable doll art. If you love holidays, especially Halloween, you will love these original soft sculpture creations. Our thanks to Ryan of Gathered Traditions, too. Read More

This first of three articles about china heads discusses the earliest known Venus ceramic figure through modern examples made in the 1960s. Many collectors are still interested in traditional china heads, even so-called low-brows. Sometimes, I'd like to see statistics on how often these dolls were reproduced. Any ceramicists out there who can help out?

My mother became a default doll collector, who rescued, dressed, and returned their innocence, to dolls. She was also skilled at dressing dolls and repairing them, and she had an eye for the unusual. Do you have photos of dolls your mothers have made that you would be willing to share with me for a gallery? Email them to me at your convenience. Thank you!

I just heard that the expert guide for miniatures, Ms. Lesley Shepherd, passed away suddenly July 30th. She was a wonderful guide, who loved miniatures, collecting, and writing. I am devastated by this loss, as is the whole About community. May she rest in peace.

Today on CBS' Sunday Morning was a story that summed up what toys and dolls are all about; they make us smile. Jaden is a six year old who has lost both of his parents, his mother died in her sleep only 4 months ago. He asked his aunt and apparent guardian to help him stop everyone around him from being so sad. He asked her to buy lot of small toys, and he has been giving them away to strangers in public places, one toy at a time. Judging from the film and photo footage, people smiled repeatedly, and some were completely overwhelmed. A little child shall lead them, goes the Bible verse, and in this case, that has truly happened.

Saturday, August 8, 2015

August
is finally here, and with it, the dog days of summer seem to whimper.
Doll shows continue, with August 15th as the date for the Peoria Doll,
bear and Toy Show, call Julie Bronski for informati0n at 312-919-7135.
The annual Maquoqueta, IA Doll, Toy and Bear Show takes place August
30th; make inquires at www.easterniowadollshows.com. More shows from all
over the world are listed in "Antique Doll Collector Magazine" August
2015 and in "Doll Castle News" July/August 2015.t

If we aren't buying dolls for our collection, than we are refurbishing
them. The magazines mentioned above include listings for doll hospitals
lie Doll Menders Doll Hospital,at www.dollmenders.com or The Little
Doll House & Doll Hospital, dollydoc106@aolcom.

The list of famous people who love dolls is every growing. Read about
Vita Sackville-West and her toy soldier collection, and then review and
refresh your knowledge of these toys that are among the oldest dolls.

Among Friends brought more wonderful character dolls, French Fashions,
babies, and novelties to light, and read more on how dolls turn up
happily in some very strange places. Happy Collecting; remember to write
and to share ideas who want to see posted!

A
recent biography of Vita Sackville-West, poet, aristocrat, member of
Bloomsbury and inspiration for Virginia Woolf's "Orlando" talks about
her toy solider collection. A poet and artist in her own right,
Sackville-West collected toys and toy soldiers before it even became
popular to do so.

Never
hesitate to broaden your horizons when you are looking for dolls. A
recent Anime convention proved to be a fun place to find dolls, plush,
action figures, and other doll-related collectibles. Don't miss the cool
costumes, either!